In 1991, there was just one sole lonely skyscraper in Dubai: the Dubai World Trade Centre. Fast forward 3 decades, the city has mushroomed with over 400, including the tallest building in the world – the Burj Khalifa (830m / 2,723ft). Dubai's growth over the past 30 years has accelerated its reputation from a desert city to one of the the most exciting and modern places in the world, earning it the nickname: the Las Vegas of the Middle East.
Dubai is also a major transport hub, making it a useful stopover to break up a long flight. Whether you're visiting on a holiday or a layover, it's always a fun place to come for beach time, shopping and some fascinating culture.
Gay travellers should be mindful that homosexuality is illegal in Dubai, so take care to avoid all public displays of affection. Despite this, a large underground LGBTQ scene does exist, particularly among the large cabin crew staff who live here.
In terms of gay, male-only hotels, there are none! Your friend in destinations like these are the large international brands, which are accustomed to LGBTQ travellers and will always welcome us.
Gay travel to Dubai
It goes without saying that LGBTQ travellers need to exercise caution in Dubai. It is one of the seven “Emirates” of the United Arab Emirates, a country with extremely severe laws against homosexuality, usually punishable by death. Each Emirate within the UAE has its own legal system running alongside the UAE's and thankfully, Dubai's is less severe. For example, homosexuality is “only” punishable with imprisonment and/or a fine.
The reality for gay travellers to Dubai is that you will be absolutely fine as long as you avoid public displays of affection. If you're caught with your trousers down with another man in public, the worst case scenario is an arrest, temporary imprisonment and deportation. The most extreme case we came across was a Lebanese / Bulgarian lesbian couple who were arrested in 2008 for kissing on a public beach.
Find out more about gay travel to Dubai, in our comprehensive gay Dubai guide.
Don't forget…
Gay dating apps such as Grindr or Scruff are blocked in Dubai. Before heading off, make sure you get a VPN. This will not only give you full access to all your favourite apps and websites, which are otherwise blocked in the UAE, it will also allow you to surf the Net anonymously.
Can I sleep in a double bed with my partner?
Due to the anti-gay laws, most guesthouses and small hotels in Dubai will require two men to sleep in two separate beds. Large international hotel brands like the ones we've set out in this article, will allow you to book a double bed with no problems. They are accustomed to dealing with LGBTQ travellers and will have trained their staff accordingly.
One thing we would advise if you're concerned about booking a double bed is to email or call the hotel before to confirm they're ok to host gay travellers/gay couples.
From our experience travelling to Dubai as a gay couple, we never encountered a problem sleeping in a double bed, particularly in the hotels we recommend in this article; in other words, no sharia police came knocking at our door here!
Sofitel Dubai Palm Resort and Spa
Why we love it
The Sofitel Palm Resort and Spa is our favourite gay friendly hotel in Dubai. This beautiful 5-star resort is perfect if you're looking for a romantic and luxurious place to stay.
The hotel is built in a Polynesian style featuring stunning suites, villas and rooms overlooking the beach, and surrounded by lush tropical gardens.
The Sofitel Palm Resort and Spa has no less 6 restaurants, 4 bars/lounges, a luxury spa, fitness centre, 6 swimming pools and a private beach where you can relax in your own Tiki cabana. It is located on the East Crescent of Palm Jumeirah, which is the largest man-made island in the world. It's also close to the Aquaventure Waterpark and provides guests with free shuttle buses to some of the attractions located further away.
STAY WITH A GAY LOCAL
Misterb&b is the Airbnb equivalent for the LGBTQ community. Unlike on Airbnb, you know your host is gay, avoiding any nasty surprises when you check in. It is also a great way to meet gay locals and discover the underground gay scene. Click below to get 10 € (or $10) off your first booking.
Shop till you drop at The Hilton Jumeirah
Why we love it
The Hilton is a well known international American chain so you shouldn't have any issues staying here as a gay traveller. This is the hotel of choice for many of our gay friends who visit Dubai for a weekend shopping spree.
The Sky Lounge is one of the best rooftop bars we've been in Dubai. We love coming here for a romantic sunset cocktail or Sunday brunch.
The Hilton Dubai Jumeirah is a 5-star resort, located in the heart of Dubai’s shopping street called “The Walk” and close to the Wild Wadi Waterpark. It has its own spa, health club, private beach and no fewer than 12 restaurants!
Aloft Me'aisam: trendy and chic
Why we love it
Aloft is a trendy international brand, well known for their gay friendly reputation.
We've stayed in several Aloft hotels during our travels, particularly in Tampa, Florida. We're fond of the young, hip and chic feel of Aloft hotels, which is targeted towards Millennials.
The Aloft Me’aisam in Dubai is an excellent choice for gay travellers looking for a stylish but more affordable gay friendly hotel than the 5-star resorts. It has a spa, international restaurant and cool W XYZ Bar, which often has live music, DJ and Happy Hours.
Be pampered at Le Royal Meridien
Why we love it
Le Royal Meridien is the place to come to be pampered and feel like a goddess… It is, after all, one of the most luxurious hotels in Dubai.
Their decadent spa is what makes Le Royal Meridien unique. Decorated in a Roman-style architecture, it offers a choice of 5 Hammam pools with many different treatments including reflexology, facials and aromatherapy.
Surrounded by landscaped gardens overlooking the Arabian Gulf, Le Meridien offers a private beach and three different pools. The rooms, suites and apartments are massive and tastefully decorated. They include an evening turn-down service and even your own private butler. Le Royal Meridien has no fewer than 14 international restaurants and bars including the award winning “Maya” Mexican restaurant.
Hyatt Regency Dubai: great for ice skating
Why we love it
The Hyatt is world famous for being gay friendly. It has its own initiative called “HyPride” and is recognised as one of the best places to work for LGBTQ equality.
The Hyatt Regency is located in Deira, the heritage heart of Dubai. It's also walking distance to the Gold Souk, one of the best traditional markets of Dubai.
The Hyatt Regency Dubai has a large pool, spa, fitness club and an indoor ice-skating rink! It also has the only revolving rooftop bar of Dubai called “Al Dawaar” along with 3 restaurants, a pool bar and the Premiere Nightclub.
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OUR FAVORITE TRAVEL RECOMMENDATIONS
⭐️ TRAVEL INSURANCE — We recommend you always take out travel insurance before your next vacation. What happens if you suffer from illness, injury, theft or a cancellation? With travel insurance, you can have peace of mind and not worry. We love World Nomads travel insurance and have been using it for years. Their comprehensive coverage is second to none and their online claims process is very user friendly.
⭐️ SAFETY & SECURITY — All travelers (gay or not) can sometimes encounter danger when traveling. CloseCircle is your “virtual body guard” mobile app which provides security alerts and support wherever you are in the world. They have a 24/7 emergency response team monitoring their users who will contact you immediately if the SOS swipe button is activated. Support can include anything from practical advice, to free evacuation from areas with extreme weather or security risks. You can read more about CloseCircle in our article about how to stay safe whilst traveling.
⭐️ ONLINE ANONYMITY — A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a must in many countries: it allows you to surf anonymously and maintain your privacy whilst traveling. You'll particularly need it in countries where gay dating apps are blocked by the government. We recommend ExpressVPN, a reliable and cost effective service which we used and loved during our travels.
⭐️ HOTELS or APARTMENTS — When we plan a trip, we always look for the best hotel deals. We love Booking.com because not only do they have a comprehensive listing of accommodation options, they also offer the best prices. Added bonus: they provide 24/7 support and free cancellation for most listings.
⭐️ SIGHTSEEING and ADVENTURES — When we travel somewhere, we like to seek out the best experiences, whether it is cooking with locals in Bangkok, hiking on a glacier in Patagonia, or going on a wildlife safari in Sri Lanka. Our favorite place to look is GetYourGuide because they have over 30,000 highly rated activities, a user-friendly booking process with free cancellation and a 24 hour customer support.
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